Method and means for storing and removing refuse



Dec. 16, 1930.

F. B. ALLEN METHOD AND MEANS FOR STORING AND REMOVING REFUSE Filed April13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEYS Dec. 16, 1930. F. B, ALLEN 1,785,539

METHOD AND MEANS FOR STORING AND REMOVING REFUSE Filed April 15, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FRANK B. ALLEN, OF LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERYOOUNTY,PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALI EN-SHERMANJ-IOFF COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA METHOD AND MEANS FOR STORING AND REMOVINGREFUSE Application filed April 13,

This invention relates to the art of handling refuse and moreparticularly such refuse as is produced in the burning of coal,

coke and the like.

solid refuse from the hopper. For certain furnaces including the stokertypes and gasproducers, and the like it is desirable that the hopper bemaintained full, or substantially full, of water for practically theentire time during which the refuse is retained in the hopper. With thehopper substantially filled with water it is effectually sealed againstentry of air through the hopper into the furnace, and is likewise sealedagainst the escape of any air or gases from the furnace into thebasement by way of the hopper. Moreover, the water in the hopper can beutilized for keeping various parts of the apparatus cooled to below apreferred maximum temperature.

There are several serious difficulties, however, in thepracticalcarrying out of this desire, among which the following may benoted: (a) The upper portion of the water in the hopper will tend toboil by reason of the heat given up to it by the heated refuse whichfalls thereinto; (b) The refuse cannot be discharged from the hopperinto a sluiceway when the hopper is substantially filled with water andrefuse because the discharge would be so rapid and in such volume thatthe sluiceway capacity would be exceeded and the sluiceway clogged; and(c) The water must be separated quickly from the refuse in the hopperwhen the refuse is to be removed from the hopper.

By the present inventionI am enabled to employ a hopper maintainedsubstantially full of water without the generation of a material amountof steam, to separate the water from the refuse in the hopper ickly andpositively when the refuse is to be removed and, finally to remove thesolid refuse from 1929. Serial No. 354,787.

the hopperrapidly and at a rateconsistent with the capacity of thesluiceway to handle 'it. I have accomplished these objects whilemaintaining the hopper substantially sealed against the entry of airinto the furnace or the escape of gases from the furnace into thebasement. The method and means by which these desirable objects havebeen obtained are described herein and apparatus for practicing theinvention is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming a part ofthe specification in which j Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central verticalsection taken through a hopper embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on line 2-2of Fig. 1'; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational View taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the receptacle or hopper A for receiving andaccumulating solid material, as from a stoker B, is formed by upstandingwalls 1 and 2 and a bottom wall 3 which is inclined downwardly andprovided at its lowest point with an extension 4 pro-. jecting throughthe walls 1 and a closure for such extension in the form of a movabledoor 5 operating in slides 6 and actuated by a piston (not shown) incylinder 7 connected to the closure 5 by a connecting rod 8. In theembodiment of my invention shown, herein the wall 3 slopes from itsmiddle point toward each of the walls 1 and at each end is provided withextensions 4, closures 5 and operating means therefor, as justdescribed.

. The extension lhas an inclined bottom wall for retaining substantiallynonfiowing, that is dewatered, solid material in the hopper when theclosure 5 is in open position. A substantially horizontal wall wouldserve the same purpose. This is due to the fact that the bottom wallprojects sufficiently far beyond the interior surface of the hopper toexceed the angle of repose of such solid material in the hopper. Theangle of repose of substantially nonflowing ashes is about 45. It willbe noted that lines drawn downwardly at an angle of 45 from the upperside of the inner. ends of the extensions 4 will intersect the lowersides of the latter some distance from the closures 5. Such a lineindicates the position that substantially nonflowing solids will take inthe extensions and shows that such material will not'flow out of thehopper under the influence of gravity alone when closures are in openposition.

. Beneath the wall 3 is located a sluiceway 9 into which liquid ma bedischarged under considerable pressure through nozzles 10 and 11 to forma swlftly moving fluid conveyor onto which solid material dischargedfrom extensions 4 can be conducted to a place of disposal. The sluicewayis covered, as by cover plates 12, except adjacent to the ends ofextensions 4 where sizing grids 13 are so positioned that solidmaterials discharged through extensions 4 may be screened, the smallersize particles passing through the grid into the sluiceway and thelarger pieces being retained for subsequent removal or breakage intosmaller sizes which will pass through the grids.

Ahousing is provided about each grid 13 in the form of a box 14connected to the top of the sluiceway andto the walls 1 so that air maybe excluded from the hopper and gas may be prevented from escaping tothe basement when the closures 5 are open. This box 14 has an accessdoor 15. The cylinder 7 is supported on the top of the box 14, as isalso the mechanism for oscillating the nozzles for discharging water onthe solid materials on the bottom wall 3. This mechanism consists of amotor 16 which drives a shaft carrying an eccentric pin 17 to which issecured a rod 18 slidably movablethrough and rock- 'able in a bearing19. The rod 18 is pivoted, as at 20, to an extension on the water tube21- and serves to pivot the tube 21 about a joint 22. Nozzles 23 in thelower end of tubes 21 are disposed to direct water under pressure inlines substantially parallel with and close to the top surface of therespective portions of walls 3 and back and forth above the wallswhen'the motor 16 operates the rod 18. The bottom wall 3 is provided atits highest point with an overhanging extension 24 for the purpose ofintercepting and directing back onto the wall 3 water discharged throughthe nozzle 23.

It will be noted that the closures 5 are substantially water-tight whenin closed position with' respect to the openings in extensions 4.

Near the upper end of the receptacle or hopper A and preferably disposedabove the highest level desired for water in the hopper is located oneor more nozzles 25 through which liquid may be delivered into thehopper. One or more overflow conduits 26 are provided .with inletopenings 27 disposed in the top portion of the water in the hopperandwith their lower ends preferably opening into the sluiceway 9, as at28. By'means of the water inlet 25 and the overflow means 26, cool watermay be introduced into the hopper at the point where heated solids firstenter the water so as to cool the water and prevent generation of amaterial amount of steam, the overflow means26 serving to removetheheatedwater from the hopper at the point of greatest heating, or anywell known fluid heat extracting means may obviously be employed toprevent marked steaming of the water in the hopper.

Means are provided for de-watering the hopper before the solids in thehopper are to be removed. Such de-watering means in the presentembodiment takes the form of one or more conduits 29 within the hopperand secured to the wall 1. These conduits 29 are each formed with aplurality of inlet openings 30 arranged to permit water to flow upwardlyfrom the hopper into the conduit 29,-this arrangement of openingstending to retain in the hopper all except the finer pieces of solidswhich can readily pass'therethrough and to permit all solids in thehopper to fall away from the openings when the hopper is emptied ofsolids. As will readily be understood the openings 30 are thusself-cleaning and require practically no attention-to maintain them andthe conduit 29 in operating condition.

The bottom end of each conduit 29 is provided with, a substantially.liquid tight closure which, in the present embodiment, may be in theform of a slide plate 31 suitably guided and actuated by a connectingrod 32 attached to a piston (not shown) reciprocable in cylinder 33.When the closure 31 is open, liquid may be discharged through theconduit 29 into the sluice 9 through passageway 34.

It will be understood that the hopper or receptacle thus described maybe positioned so as to receive solid material from various sources butparticularly from fuel burners such as power house stokers, producer gasmachines and the like, the solid refuse from such combustion beingreceived preferably by being allowed to fall under the influence ofgravity into the hopper.

In operating the apparatus just described the closures 5 and 31 arebrought into closed position with respect to the several openingscontrolled thereby and water is discharged into the hopper through means25. When the water level rises to substantially the point shown inFigure 2 it overflows through conduit 26. Preferably water iscontinually introduced through means 25 and the overflowcontinuouslyjischarged through conduit 26 until the solids are to beremoved from the hopper. Solid materials are brought into the upperendof the hopper and collected on the bottom wall 3 for a considerableperiod of time during which the solids may fill the hopper substantiallyto its top. When it is desired to remove the solids the supply of waterto nozzles 25 is shut off and the closures 31 are opened and suflicientliquid removed from the hopper thru conduits 29 to render the solidsremaining in the hopper substantially non-flowing. It will be understoodthat if the closures 5 are open while the hopper is substantially filledwith solids and water the solids would rush out in great volume into thesliceway in such quantities as substantially to clog the sliuceway andrender it inoperative. By removing the liquid first until the solids arein a non-flowing condition this disadvantage is overcome. Whensufiicient water has been removed from the hopper the pistons incylinders 7 are actuated to remove the closures 5 and permit solids tobe discharged through extensions 4. Any water remaining in the bottom ofthe hopper when closures 5 are opened will flow out of the hopper andmay carry some solids with it but when such water has escaped, nofurther flow of solids from the hopper will take place because thesolids in nonflowing condition will come to rest on their angle ofrepose.

When the closures 5 are in open position the motor 16 is actuated andliquid under pressure is discharged through nozzles 23 against thesolids on the bottom 3 with the result that the solids are washed orhydraulically fed onto the grids 13 and into the sluiceway 9 where theyare rapidly removed to a place of disposal by the fluid flowing therein.When the solids have been removed from the hopper, the water flowingthrough nozzles 23 is shut off, the closures 5 and 31 are brought intoclosed position with respect to the extensions 4 and conduits 29 and thedischarge of liquid through nozzles 25 is resumed.

As was mentioned above the solid refuse is removed from the hopperrapidly and at a rate consistent with the capacity of the sluiceway tohandle the same. This is preferably accomplished by properlyproportioning the water discharged thru nozzles 23 against the solids inthe hopper and the water discharged into the sluiceway thru nozzles 10and 11. When properly proportioned, the water from nozzles 23 dischargedagainst solids in the hopper will feed the solids into the sluiceway atsuch a rate that the maximum carrying capacity of the conveying waterflowing in the sluiceway can be closely approximated, thus preventingunderloading of the stream of water in the sluiceway with resultantwaste of Water or overloading with the possibility of clogging of thesluiceway.

It will be understood that solids may also be conducted into hopper Afrom a point remote from the hopper either by gravity or by a pump orsluiceway.

Having thus described my invention so that those skilled in the art maybe enabled to understand and practice the same what I desire to secureby Letters Patent is defined.

in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of handling refuse which comprises collecting heatedrefuse in a hopper and, during substantially the entire time of saidcollection, submerging the refuse under water, maintaining the waterbelow a temperature at which marked steaming occurs, discharging therefuse mixed with water from the hopper into a separately formed movingstream of water 'at a rate consistent with the ability of the latter tohandle such discharge, and transporting such refuse to a point ofdisposal by said separately formed stream.

2. The method of handling refuse which comprises collecting refuse in ahopper and during such collection submerging the refuse under water,discharging sufficient water from the hopper to reduce the major part ofthe refuse to a substantially nonflowing condition, hydraulicallyfeeding the substantially nonflowing refuse from the hopper into amoving stream of water at a rate consistent with the ability of thelatter to handle such discharge, and transporting such refuse to a pointof disposal by said moving stream of water.

3. The method of handling refuse which comprises collecting refuse in ahopper and during such collection submerging the refuse under water,discharging sufiicient water from the hopper to reduce the major part ofthe refuse to a substantally nonflowing condition, opening the lowerportion of the hopper for discharge of substantially nonflowing refusetherefrom, retaining the nonflowing refuse in the open hopper againstthe action of gravity, hydraulically feeding the substantiallynonflowing refuse from the hopper into a moving streamof water at a rateconsistent with the ability of the latter to handle such discharge, andtransporting such refuse to a point of disposal.

4. The method ofhandlingashes which comprises collecting heated ashes ina hopper and during such collection submerging the ashes under water,maintaining the water below a temperature at which marked steamingoccurs, discharging suflicient water from the hopper to reduce the majorpart of the ashes to a substantially nonflowin condition, 0 ening thehopper for the disc arge of non owing ashes, retaining the nonflowingashes in the opened hopper against the action of gravity, hydraulicallyfeeding the substantially nonflowing ashes from the hopper into a movingstream of water at a rate consistent with the ability of the latter. tohandle such discharge, and transporting such ashes to a point ofdisposal.

5. Ash handling apparatus comprising a hopper disposed to' collectheated refuse from a furnace and adapted to retain water for keepingsaid refuse submerged during substantially the entire time ofcollection, fluid means for maintaining the water in the hopper. at atemperature below which marked steaming occurs, a sluiceway disposed toreceive refuse discharged from the hopper and provided with means forforming therein a moving stream of liquid, the hopper having a dischargeopening in its lower portion for delivery of refuse from the hopper tothe sluiceway, a closure for the opening, and means including theclosure and a water nozzle, for substantially emptying the hopper ofrefuse mixed with water into the moving stream of water in the sluicewayat a rate consistent with the ability of the latter to transport therefuse to a point of disposal.

6. Ash handling apparatus comprising a hopper disposed to collect heatedrefuse from a furnace and adapted to retain water for keeping saidrefuse submerged during substantially the entire time of collection,fluid means for maintaining the water in the hopper at a temperaturebelow which marked steaming occurs, a sluiceway disposed to receiverefuse discharged from the hopper and provided with means for formingtherein a moving stream of liquid, the hopper hav-' ing a dischargeopening in its lower portion for delivery of refuse from the hopper tothe sluiceway, a closure for the o ening, a housing connecting thehopper an sluiceway and forming a passage thru which refuse travels inmoving from the hopper into the sluiceway, and means including theclosure and a water nozzle, for substantially emptying the hopper ofrefuse mixed with water into the moving stream of water in the sluicewayat a rate consistent with the ability of the latter to transport therefuse to apoint of disposal.

7. Ash handling a paratus comprisin a hopper disposed to co lect refusefrom a r nace and adapted to retain water for keeping said refusesubmerged durin substantially the entire time of collection, t e hopperhaving a discharge openingin its lower portion, a sluiceway disposed toreceive refuse discharged from the said opening, means to form in thesluiceway a moving stream of.

water, means communicating with the interior of the hopper fordischarging water to reduce the ma or part of the refuse to asubstantially nonflowing condition reparatory to discharge of refusefrom the opper, and

hydraulic means operable on the nonflowin refuse in the hopper fordischarging suc refuse into the sluiceway at a controllable rateconsistent with the ability of the sluiceway'to handle and to transportthe refuse to a point of disposal. V

8. Ash handling a paratus comprisin a hopper dis osed to co lect refusefrom a 511'- nace and a apted to retain water for keeping said refusesubmerged during substantially charged from the said opening, means toform in the sluiceway a moving stream of water, means commumcating withthe mterior of the ho per for discharging water to reduce the ma]or partof the refuse to a sub stantially nonflowing condition preparatory todischarge of refuse from the hopper, supporting means to retain refusein such nonflowing condition in the hopper against the action of gravitywhen the closure is in o ened position, and hydraulic means opera le onthe nonflowing refuse in the hopper for discharging such refuse into theslulceway at a controllable rate consistent with the ability of thesluiceway to handle and to transport the refuse to a point of disposal.

9. Ash handling apparatus com rising a hopper disposed to collect heatedre use from a furnace and adapted to retain water for keeping saidrefuse submerged during substantially the entire time of collection,liquid means for maintaining the'water in the hopper at a temperaturebelow which marked steaming occurs, means communicating with theinterior 'of the hopper for discharging water to reduce the major partof the refuse to a substantially nonflowing condition preparatory todischarge ofrefuse from the hopper, the hopper having a dischargeopening in its lower portion, a water retaining closure for saidopening, supporting means to retain refuse in such condition in thehopper against the action of gravity when the said water retainingclosure is in open position, a sluiceway positioned to receive refusedischarge from the hopper and provided with means for forming a movingstream of water therein,

' and hydraulic means operable on the refuse retained in the hopperafter the closure'is opened for discharging such refuse into thesluiceway at a controllable rate consistent with the ability of thesluiceway to handle and to transport the refuse to a place of disposal.

10. Ash handling apparatus com rising a ho per disposed to collectheated as es from a fiirnace and adapted to retain water therein forkeeping said ashes submerged during substantially the entire time ofcollection, the hopper being formed by upstanding side and end walls anda bottom wall, means including an overflow outlet for predetermining themaximum de'pth of water in the hopper, means for admitting water into'the hopper, dewatering means including an out let communicatin atvarious elevations with the interior of the hopper for quickly removingsufiicient water to reduce the ma or part of ashes in the hopper to asubstant al nonflowing condition, controllable means 1ncluding a valvefor opening andclosing the dewatering means, the hop er having in itslower portion an ash -disc arge 0 ening, a movable closure for closingthe sai opening against substantial leakage of water, su porting. meansto retain such nonflowing as es in the hopper against the action ofgravity whenthe closure for the discharge opening is in opened position,a sluiceway disposed to receive ashes discharged thru'the ash discharge,

opening, means including a water nozzle for forming in the sluiceway aswiftly moving stream of liquid capable of transporting to a placeofdisposal the ashes as hydraulically fed into the sluicewa a housingconstituting a closed passage in W ich the ashes move from the hopper tothe sluiceway, means including water nozzles for hydraulically feedingashes over the supporting means from the hopper into the sluiceway, at arate consistent with the capacity of the sluiceway to handle such ashes.

11. Ash handling apparatus comprising a' hopper disposed to collectashes from a furnace, means to discharge water into the hopper, meansfor withdrawing Water from the hopper, the hopper having an ashdischarge opening in its lower portion provided with a controllablmovable closure adapted to retain Water 1n the hop er, a sluicewaydisposed to receive ashes discharged thru said opening and provided withmeans to form a swiftly moving stream of water therein, and meansincluding a water nozzle to discharge water against ashes in the hopper,for discharging substantially all the ashes fromthe hopper into thesluiceway at a rate consistent with the ability of the sluiceway tohandle such ashes. y

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature this 21st da of March,1929.

h RANK B. EN.

